Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Body of Autumn Pasquale Found

The 12-year-old was last seen riding her bike in her Clayton, NJ-neighborhood.

Update: 5:49 a.m., Oct. 23: The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office says a body believed to be that of Autumn Pasquale has been found in a recycling container. 

A spokesman did not disclose where the discovery was made, The (NY) Daily News reports this morning. The body was discovered late Monday night. 

"This is a very sad day for the Pasquale family," Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the family and to all the residents of Clayton who stood together in support of this young girl."

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Update, 2:44 p.m., Oct. 22: Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information on missing Clayton 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale.

Officials announced the reward at a press conference held by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office Monday afternoon. The reward comes as more than 48 hours have passed since Autumn was last seen. 

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Half of the reward money comes from Autumn's family, with the county prosecutor matching the remaining half, 6ABC reports. With more than 200 law enforcement officers searching for the preteen, authorities have conducted 75 interviews trying to glean information on the case. 

Autumn was last seen riding her bike. She sent a text message around 2:30 p.m., 6ABC reports.

While her parents did not speak at the press conference, her father earlier told NBC10, "Everyone's working together to try and find her. We love her and we want her to come home."

If you have information on Autumn Pasquale's whereabouts, call the Clayton Police Department at 856-881-2300 or dial 911.

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The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office released the following statement on missing Clayton girl Autumn Pasquale:

A growing number of law enforcement personnel from Gloucester County and other agencies are joining the effort today to find 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale, reported missing from her Clayton, NJ, home Saturday night.

Ground search efforts this morning were focusing on several locations in Clayton. A New Jersey State Police aerial unit is assisting in this effort.

The Clayton Middle School student was last seen leaving her West High St. home at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on a white BMX bike. She was reported missing 9:30 p.m. Saturday after missing a family-imposed curfew.

The Clayton Police Department began the search Saturday night and it was expanded Sunday with activation of Gloucester County’s Child Abduction Response Team that calls in personnel and equipment from throughout the county. CART is coordinated by detectives with the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office. The State Police missing persons unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Camden-based U.S. Marshals Service Task Force and the GCPO’s fugitive and high-tech crime units are all assisting. 

More than 100 law enforcement personnel from 18 agencies are now involved in the search.

County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton will further update the situation at a 2 p.m. news conference in the Gloucester County Government Services Building, 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Clayton.


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